In the beginning: Science, faith and the resistance to change

In the so called Science-Faith conflict, more often than not, it is the resistance of the church to Galileo's theory that the earth revolves around the sun, that is cited. But it was not, and is not,  just the church that resists new ideas.  It is people, even, or perhaps especially, Scientists! I mean very smart people often have an additional obstacle to overcome when it comes to admitting they are wrong (ego). But perhaps I should speak for myself! Nevertheless, from the internet Einstein “fiercely resisted the view that the universe was expanding, despite his contemporaries' suggestions that this was the case.” In both science and faith, we all tend to interpret things though the lens of our pre-determined world views (or theology).  We will look at these things more closely later.  But here I want to talk about the resistance to paradigm shifts that occur in Science.

Thomas Kuhn in his book 'The Structure of Scientific Revolutions,'  documents how favourite and widely accepted scientific theories, strongly resist change by the Scientific community. One scientific revolution centred around whether the universe had a beginning (Genesis 1:1a). About a hundred years ago the steady state theory was widely accepted, including by Einstein (Google it). It hypothesized that the universe had always existed. This eliminated the obvious logic, based on  the Scientific law of cause and effect, that the existence a beginning, requires a Beginner!

Again from the internet: “When Hubble determined that the vast majority of stars and galaxies had a red shift, he created a major shift in the world view that dominated science. The universe before Hubble was thought to have eternally existed. After Hubble the presently observed universe could no longer be consider to be eternal.”

The red shift in light is similar to the Doppler shift in sound. The Doppler shift is the change of pitch that's heard when an ambulance,  sounding a siren, approaches and then passes an observer. The actual pitch of the siren does not change, but the pitch that is heard is higher during the approach, and lower as the vehicle moves away. The red shift in light is conceptually similar. It can be understood as the observed wavelength of the light being stretched, or 'shifted' towards the red part of the spectrum as a source moves away from the observer.

Please do not think I am anti-science. I am not. Many of the discoveries of Science are awesome. Science ultimately seeks for truth, and I believe, as with the steady state theory, that Science will eventually correct its errors. It might just take a very long time, and  especially, from my point of view,  when it postulates theories that contradict clear and unambiguous Biblical statements! Defending this point of view is called apologetics, and there is much to say. But there is also much to say about “clear and unambiguous Biblical statements.” I am talking about hermeneutics, the theory and practice of interpretation.  And I want to say clearly, that we have arrived neither in Science, nor in our understanding of how to interpret the Bible!

Prayer. Father help us not to be afraid of different ideas. You tell us to hold firmly to the foundations (Hebrews 10:33). But please help us to be open to refinements to our thinking, and to be willing to admit it when we are wrong, or when we don't know. And there are more things we don't know, than things we do. Grant us boldness,  but humility Lord in Jesus Name Amen

Interpretation, unity and the whole council of God.

I have often been asked “Can't you make the Bible say anything you want?” It's called twisting scripture. I usually answer, tongue in cheek, “Oh yes, and using the same rules of interpretation, I can make the dictionary say the same thing! And since I discovered that, I stopped using the dictionary!” Thank the Lord for spellchecker! Twisting words is a fine art both in the church, and in the wider culture. But Peter warns that when we twist Scripture, we do it to our own destruction (2 Peter 3:16).

If you think you have a pretty good handle on interpretation let me ask you what you do with the obscure passages such as the one coming up concerning the Nephilim (Genesis 6:1-4). Or what do you make of “angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode” (Jude 6). But if all Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching (2 Timothy 3:16), then so are the above passages. And if we are to take the whole council of God (Acts 20:27), should we simply ignore them? I have the impression that most Christians don't think much about interpretation. They just do it, but not always well! However, if we are to test all things (1 Thessalonians 5:21), then we need to test our interpretations! There are many pitfalls, and since we are coming to a particularly difficult passage, I want to use it as a spring board to talk (mostly afterwards) about some of the tools of interpretation (hermeneutics).

One basic approach to Bible study is called the inductive Bible study method. We ask the text three questions: What does it say: what does it mean: how does it apply? It's easy to confuse what it says with what it means. Of course there are times when the meaning is plain and literal. 'Do not commit adultery' means 'do not commit adultery.' And the application is 'do not commit adultery! But what do you do with “Unless you hate your mother and father, you cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:26). One 1970's cult I know of took it literally, capitalizing on family bitterness. But it's a literary device called hyperbole, an exaggerated statement not meant to be taken literally. So what does it mean? One way to look at it, is to say that our love for Jesus needs, in comparison to our love for mother and father, to look like hate. We are to honour father and mother, and we are to love our enemies (Exodus 20:12; Luke 6:27), so there's no way that it's meant to be taken literally. In terms of application, sometimes in wanting to honour our parents we can put them, or their opinions, above God. It's not just parents of course. Anything or anyone, that comes ahead of God is an idol!

Concerning testing our interpretations, the Bible says “The first to plead his cause seems right, until his neighbour comes and examines him” (Proverbs 18:17). So when there are disagreements, we need to hear and weigh, apposing arguments. Paul tells us there needs be differences among us, to show who has God’s approval (1 Corinthians 11:19).

Father, it's not always easy to love those with whom we disagree. But this is where unity comes in. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies (1 Corinthians 8:2). Give us grace and humility to hear each other out. Help us Lord to be willing to be shown where we are wrong, and to be correctable, in Jesus Name Amen.

Nephilim, ancient Near Eastern literature and inspiration

It is well known that ancient Near Eastern literature contains creation myths and stories about the flood etc., etc.  In fact parallels with the sons of God and the Nephilim in Genesis 6:1-4 have deep Mesopotamian roots parallels. Some have accused the Bible of copying this material.  There's no need for believers to be threatened by this, but we do need to understand the connections. It's part of loving the Lord with our mind (Mark 12:30). Let's examine the situation. We saw last day, that the sons of God were part of a council of supernatural created beings in the unseen realm. In the Mesopotamian counterpart they are the apkallus, and they are considered to be gods, not created beings.

In Biblical theology, daemons are fallen angels (Matthew 25:41).  In the Mesopotamian literature, “many apkallus were considered evil; those apkallus are integral to Mesopotamian demonology.  After the flood, offspring of the apkallus were said to be human in descent (i.e., having a human parent) and two-thirds apkallu. In other words, the apkallus mated with human women and produced quasi-divine offspring” (Michale Heiser  'The Unseen Realm: Recovering the Supernatural Worldview of the Bible' p 102).  Gilgamesh, the hero of the Epic of Gilgamesh, is said to be a giant. The parallels with  Genesis 6 are unmistakable.

The Genesis account is doing what the Bible does frequently, namely speaking into the surrounding cultures sometimes affirming, sometimes correcting, but always bringing in deeper truths. So here in Genesis, the Bible affirms the existence of spiritual beings in the unseen realm, and of giants who were offspring from a mixed union between the sons of God and humans. But the Mesopotamian apkallus are not gods. In fact there is only on God, all else, in heaven and on earth, are created.

All this is consistent with part of the stated purpose of inspiration, namely that is it useful for teaching truth and for correction (2 Timothy 3:16).  And the application of this passage is not just for those who lived way back when! You have to ask where all the  interest in the occult, Ouija boards, reiki, New Age mysticism etc., etc. comes from?  We are commanded not to learn the destructive behaviours of unbelievers (Deuteronomy 18:9-12). The New Testament affirms the existence of wicked spiritual beings in the unseen realm, and of their influence on humanity (Ephesians 6:12; John 10:10a). We read that Satan is able to transform himself into an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14).  And are we not instructed concerning the possibility of you and I entertaining angels manifesting in human form (Hebrews 13:2)?

New Age doctrine for example, like that of the Mesopotamians, is surly a mixture of truth and error.  And it seems to me that the anti-supernatural stance of much of the church has driven those with supernatural giftings, into the arms of New Agers. But we should be very cautious about trusting the so called New Age spirit guides. In fact we are told very clearly not to believe every spirit, but to test them to see if they be of God  (1 John 4:1).

Father, the enemy comes to kill, steal and destroy,  but Jesus came that we might have life in all its fullness (John 10:10). But in order to have that life, we need to walk in the light and the truth of Your inspired Word. Please give us grace to do this Lord, and to be as wise as serpents, but as harmless as doves, in Jesus Name Amen

Some thoughts by C.S. Lewis on creeds and the Bible

I remember once when I had been giving a talk to the R.A.F., an old, hard-bitten officer got up and said, 'I've no use for all that stuff. But, mind you, I'm a religious man too. I know there's a God. I've felt Him: out alone in the desert at night: the tremendous mystery. And that's just why I don't believe all your neat little dogmas and formulas about Him. To anyone who's met the real thing they all seem so petty and pedantic and unreal!'

Now in a sense I quite agreed with that man. I think he had probably had a real experience of God in the desert. And when he turned from that experience to the Christian creeds, I think he really was turning from something real to something less real. In the same way, if a man has once looked at the Atlantic from the beach, and then goes and looks at a map of the Atlantic, he also will be turning from something real to something less real: turning from real waves to a bit of coloured paper. But here comes the point. The map is admittedly only coloured paper, but there are two things you have to remember about it. In the first place, it is based on what hundreds and thousands of people have found out by sailing the real Atlantic. In that way it has behind it masses of experience just as real as the one you could have from the beach; only, while yours would be a single glimpse, the map fits all those different experiences together. In the second place, if you want to go anywhere, the map is absolutely necessary. As long as you are content with walks on the beach, your own glimpses are far more fun than looking at a map. But the map is going to be more use than walks on the beach if you want to get to America.

From Mere Christianity
Compiled in A Year with C.S. Lewis

The serpent cursed: Blessings and curses

“So the LORD God said to the serpent: 'Because you did this, you are cursed more than all cattle, and more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall go, and you shall eat dust all the days of your life'” (Genesis 3:14). The serpent has many names, which we need to know if we are to understand the various scriptures about him. He is the great dragon, the Devil, Satan etc. (Revelation 12:9). Satan can transform himself into an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). Now angels can manifest in various ways,  including as human (Hebrews 13:2).  Satan had manifest himself in the Garden as the serpent. We do not know the original form he took when tempting Eve, but he was likely beautiful and upright. If this were not the case why would the curse result in him crawling in his belly and eating dirt?  It is a sign of disgrace and humiliation by the way! And since that time Satan and his angels are pictured as despised snakes and scorpions (i.e Luke 10:19).  

But what does it mean to be cursed of God? We get something of a  picture from the first man God cursed.  Adam and Eve's firstborn son Cain had risen up and slain his brother Abel (Genesis 4:1, 2, 8). And God cursed Cain as follows “Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. When you till the ground, it will no longer yield its crops to you. You will be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth” (Genesis 4:11, 12).

Cain was cast out from the fruitful land, and had no place to call home. Likewise the devil and his angels were expelled from heaven and cast down to the earth (Revelation 12:9 again).  Satan now wanders the earth seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). With regrade to not bearing  crops, Satan cannot produce life in any form. The best he can do is to kill, steal and destroy (John 10:10a). He can also lie, in fact he is the original deceiver. He can imitate signs and wonders (2 Thessalonians 2:9), but he cannot produce fruit (Galatians 5:22, 23).  For this reason Jesus told us that it is by their fruit you will know them (Matthew 7:16).  

Satan was cursed, and it fact so are the “seed of the serpent” (Genesis 3:15),  all those who go the way of Cain. After Adam and Eve had in essence chosen rules over relationship there was need of a whole bunch of new rules, and God brought in the Law (Exodus 20:1-17). Living under the Law was tough, for “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do  all things which are written in the book of the law”  (Deuteronomy 27:26). But it's impossible to live up to all that is written (James 3:2).  But for God! Paul quotes Deuteronomy in order to say that “Christ has set us free from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us, for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree'” (Galatians 3:10, 13). The tree of course is the cross!

Father, thank You Lord that Jesus took our curse in order that we might receive Your blessing (Ephesians 1:3).  You did this Lord so that you could be just and the justifier of those who put their trust in You (Romans 3:26). Thank You Lord,  in Jesus Name Amen

Our misunderstood and often maligned God

It’s not that long ago that I was complaining to the Lord about being misunderstood. You can complain to Him you know, King David did (Psalm 142:2)! And it’s better to complain to Him,  rather than to others,  because when you complain to others, it’s all too easily to be promoting disunity (2 Corinthians 12:10).  But I digress! God’s ‘tongue-in-cheek’  reply to me was “You think you’re misunderstood,  what about all those people who say they represent me,  but don’t have a clue who I am? What about all those who blame Me for everything that goes wrong? What about most of  the over 40,000 registered Christian denominations whom claim to have figured Me out, but don’t have a clue nevertheless tell anyone who is not them,  that they are right and everybody else is wrong?” In other words He was saying “And you think you're misunderstood?” Feeling misunderstood?  There's nothing we go through that He has not gone through in spades (Hebrews 4:15).

I believe that nowhere has God been more misunderstood than in women's issues.  God's blueprint for relationship between men and women is Adam and Eve before the fall. And we are to seek, with His help,  to bring the Kingdom to earth as it is in heaven, and as it was in paradise (Matthew 6:10). Adam and Eve were neither a patriarchal nor a matriarchal society. In paradise Adam did not rule over Eve. And so when we read in Genesis 3:16 that the man will rule over the women, it is to my way of thinking,  a prophecy of what would take place post fall. It was not, and is not,  something that God was desiring, let alone commanding!  And in fact for a long time that was, and in many places still is, an accurate description of what has actually happened.  But God's desire, is that the man love his wife sacrificially,  just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her (Ephesians 5:25).

And if we really want to know what God is like, we just need to look at Jesus Christ. He tells us “If you have seen Me, You have seen the Father (John 14:9).  God has revealed Himself supremely in Jesus Christ (Hebrews 1:2). In fact the whole of Scripture testifies to who He is (John 5:39). But it is not enough to know about Him, we need to know Him,  as in have a relationship with Him. He promises “You will search for Me and find Me when you search for Me with all of your Heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).  To know Him in relationship is the essence of eternal life (John 17:3).

Father, please forgive us for jumping to conclusions as to who You are.  I suspect when we think badly of You,  we have  believed lies,  for You are the very essence of love (1 John 4:8).  Lord Jesus, as the God-Man You show us God and You show us mankind as God intend for us to be (John 14:9-11). In relationship with You we move towards life in all its fullness (John 10:10b). So I pray this morning Lord, that You will continue to teach us who You are, and to draw us to Yourself. I believe we will be fascinated for all eternity with You,  our mysterious, fascinating and wonderful God. Thank You that when time is no more, we will be able to praise You as we aught,  and as You so richly deserve in Your precious Name Amen.

The curse: Rules or relationship

Everything changed the day Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit (Genesis 2:17; 3:6), but not just for Adam and Eve. In particular the serpent is cursed and the ground is cursed. Now working the soil requires that we deal with thorns and thistles,  and by the sweat of our brow (Genesis 3:17, 18). Murphy's law kicks in “Anything that can go wrong will go wrong."  And deep down we know that there's something seriously wrong with what was initially created perfect (1:31). It's the curse, and it's part of the death, both physical and spiritual,  that happen as a result of the fall (Ephesians 2:1)

If  a single disobedience to the command seems too small a thing for everything to change, consider the  Biblical picture of the fly in the ointment (Ecclesiastes 10:1). To obey the one simple command should not honestly have been a big deal.  In fact obedience is no big deal when you heart is right with God. John puts it this way “This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3).  And the essence of His commandments are that we love Him passionately,  and love our neighbour as ourselves (Mark 12:30-34). And like the loving Father He is, He has only our very best interest at heart. What He wants is relationship. In fact relationship with Him is the very essence of Kingdom life (John 17:3).  The fruit of a heart that is right with God includes love, joy, peace, goodness,  gentleness etc. (Galatians5:22).   But a lukewarm heart does not cut it (Revelation 3:16). A recovery saying advises “half measures profited us nothing!”

As mentioned earlier when we're walking in obedience,  His  “perfect love casts out all fear” (1 John 4:17, 18).  This side of the fall this is a process, and God is so holy that when God reveals Himself to us, we can be terrified (Acts 9:5;  2 Corinthians 5:11; Revelation 6:16).  And this can lead to choosing rules over relationship. When the children of Israel heard the voice from the midst of the darkness, while the mountain was burning with fire they replied  “If we hear the voice of the LORD our God anymore, then we shall die. You go near and hear all that the LORD our God may say, and tell us all that He says to you, and we will hear and do it” (Deuteronomy 5:25, 27). They were choosing rules over relationship. But when we chose rules, then we will be blessed if we obey, but cursed if we disobey (Deuteronomy 11:26-28).  And the problem is,  that in many things we all fail.

Father, since all have sinned and fallen short of Your Glory (Romans 3:23), no one can be made right with You by following rules. In fact the Law (rules) are there to show us our need of Your salvation. Thank you Lord Jesus that You became a curse for us,  so that in a divine exchange we can be blessed (Galatians 3:13, 14). For these and many other things we give You thanks and praise in Your precious Name Amen